Oct 2- Reaching Santiago de Compostela

What matters is not reaching Santiago, but who you are when you arrive.

Today, Kathleen and I set out together for our final trek to Santiago de Compostela…the last stretch of this incredible journey. We left the albergue at 6:30 a.m., our headlamps casting small cones of light onto the quiet trail ahead. The air was cool and still, the kind of calm that feels sacred before sunrise. With only 20 kilometers left, we expected to reach the cathedral by lunchtime.

As we walked, the rhythm of our steps and the soft crunch of gravel beneath our shoes brought back memories of my very first Camino. I couldn’t help but think of Mike and Viola, my companions from that journey, and the rainy day we shared together on this same trail. Today’s path, damp and misty, carried the same scent of wet earth and eucalyptus, a reminder of where it all began for me.

Along the way, Kathleen and I reflected on our experiences along the Camino Primitivo…the hardest climbs, the moments that tested our resolve, and the breathtaking beauty that made every step worthwhile. Physically, this route lived up to its reputation as the most challenging, but it has also rewarded us with some of the most spectacular views I’ve ever seen. Every hill, every vista felt like both an ending and a beginning.

As we neared Santiago, the trail came alive with pilgrims converging from every direction. You could feel the air humming with excitement, a collective heartbeat of anticipation carrying us all toward the same sacred destination.

In no time at all we had come to just a few kilometers to the city. We could see Santiago’s Cathedral in the distance.

As we took our final steps into Santiago, a wave of emotion rose that words can barely contain. The familiar yellow arrows that had guided all of us for so many miles seemed to glow a little brighter, as if they too knew the end was near. The sound of footsteps, laughter, and quiet tears filled the air..pilgrims from every direction converging on the same goal, each carrying their own story of struggle and discovery.

Reaching the cathedral was surreal. After weeks of walking through mountains, sun, and silence, the sight of those spires felt both like an ending and a homecoming. Every ache and blister suddenly felt insignificant compared to the deep sense of gratitude that took their place.

As Kathleen and I descended the final steps, the sound of bagpipes drifted through the morning air ..haunting, beautiful, and unmistakably Santiago. That familiar surge of emotion began to rise within me, a mix of relief, pride, and quiet awe. By the time we stepped into the vast square before the cathedral, both of us had tears in our eyes. It’s a feeling that defies words …a moment where joy, exhaustion, and gratitude all meet.

The Camino has a way of stripping life down to its essentials…one step, one breath, one sunrise at a time. Along the way, I found kindness in strangers and friends, peace in solitude, and strength I didn’t know I had. Finishing the trail doesn’t feel like crossing a finish line; it feels like carrying the Camino forward, in heart and habit, wherever the road leads next.

My thoughts: Another Camino completed. It’s hard to believe how quickly the time passed. This journey was both challenging and deeply rewarding. There were moments when it felt almost impossible, yet every step was worth it. As this chapter comes to a close, I’m filled with a mix of gratitude, awe, and reflection.

I’m especially thankful for my Camino family and the friends who made this experience so meaningful. A special thank-you to Kathleen, who walked every step of the way with me…what a gift to share this journey together…. Thank You!!

I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the chance to be here once again, fully immersed in nature, in being present in life itself. For anyone considering this journey, I say do it. It’s worth every step.